Yes, I know what you’re thinking. You saw the title for this post, and you thought…
“Really? Another trip?”
And… “Could that girl have ANY MORE TRAVEL DRAMA?”
Friends, I’m wondering the same thing.
To be clear, I’m questioning why all the travel drama, not why I was on a trip. We visited M’s family this weekend to celebrate Grandma’s 90th birthday, and it was lovely. Even the flight to Omaha last Thursday was fun and breezy. Well, you know, not totally breezy since we had four excruciatingly inquisitive kids on the flight. Kids who were determined to completely understand all the elements of aerospace engineering during our two hour and twenty minute flight.
Unfortunately they asked me most of their questions. My knowledge of how airplanes work is somewhere around the level of having to Google aerospace engineering to make sure that is, in fact, the science behind flying.
Or maybe I was too lazy to actually Google that. So, now you know, I don’t know anything about flying. But I faked it the best I could, and my quasi-knowldege entertained the kids.
My quasi-knowledge and the three iPhones and two iPads we brought with us.
All was fine on the return flight last night, when suddenly the flight attendant came over to me and whispered, “I just wanted you to know, since you have kids…it looks like we’ll be landing in Austin.”
I am nothing if not a pleaser. This woman obviously trusted me with this secret, so I didn’t want to freak out with, “AUSTIN? I HAVE A BETTER IDEA! HOUSTON! THIS PLANE SHOULD BE GOING TO HOUSTON!”
Instead, I just smiled, like I had really hoped we’d take a little break in Austin. Why hurry home? It was only eight thirty the night before one of the busiest weeks in the history of our family. “Austin!” my smile said. “What a fun idea!”
Turns out thunderstorms were hitting Houston, and we didn’t have enough fuel to fly around them. We’d have to refuel in Austin and wait out the storms. All of this would add a couple hours onto our return trip…and get us home early MONDAY MORNING.
Did I mention we were embarking on the busiest week in the history of our family?
Nice.
So, like I said, our kids are professional interrogators. If the excitement of the airplane, with all its switches and fans and lights and special rules, had not been enough…a wrinkle in the flight plan was fascinating to them.
The floodgates for questions were now open, and they were ready to ASK AWAY.
Actual evidence of their questioning skills…
“Will we crash?” “Do we HAVE to land in Austin? Could another plane just come beside us and fill up our tank?” “Do I still have to go to school tomorrow?” “Can I ask the lady for another Sprite?” “Can I go to the bathroom?” “Can I go to the bathroom AGAIN?” “Why is that lady sleeping with her mouth open?” “Can I ask the pilot to do loopy-loops on the way to Houston?”
I actually let Sam go up to the cockpit and ask the pilot the last question. Unfortunately, it was while the pilot was trying to find a flight path back to Houston and had no time for inquisitive kids.
I was starting to feel the same way about inquisitive kids. But there were questions running through my mind, too…
Questions like,
“Why did we book the last flight out of town again?” “Really, Tina? Four protein bars? That’s all the snacks you packed for, what has become, a FOUR-HOUR flight?” “When was the last time someone changed Nate’s diaper? Today?” “Who in the world will take all these kids to school in the morning if I’m sleeping in until noon?” “Why do the kids smell like pickles? Or is that bleach?”
ANDI think we all know what the other passengers on the flight were asking…
“How long until that two-year-old loses it? Doesn’t that mom have any snacks to feed it?”
No. No, she did not.
BUT…all questions aside, we made it home safely. And, miracles of miracles, the kids even made it to school today.
Now, there’s only one question left…
Who’s going to tell them no one went to the grocery store today?
